The Berkshire Branch AGM was held on Wednesday 8th August 2018 at 7pm in the Long Gallery, Englefield House, Englefield, Reading. Richard Knox-Johnston, Chairman of London Green Belt Council gave the keynote speech 'How Safe is the Berkshire Countryside?'

Last year our speaker was the new CPRE President, Emma Bridgewater.

The CPRE Berkshire Branch AGM 2018 was held at The Long Gallery, Englefield House, Theale, by kind permission of Richard Benyon MP and was attended by 50 members, guests and representatives from Parish Councils, and Carol Jackson-Dorg, Leader of West Berkshire Council, Graham Barker, the High Sheriff of Berkshire and Dr. Christina Hill Williams, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. The new Chairman elected at the AGM is John Hudson of Bray, Maidenhead.

The speaker, Richard Knox-Johnston, gave an interesting talk with focus on the 'State of the Green Belt' which remains under severe pressure despite government committments to its protection- a new report from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) shows that 460,000 houses are being planned for land that will be released from the Green Belt while the percentage of 'affordable' homes built continues to fall.

The AGM in 2017 will be held centrally in Berkshire - the date to be confirmed around June/July 2017.

Last year's AGM at Englefield House, near Theale, was attended by the CPRE Berkshire Board and 60 members and guests. The keynote speech was given Henry Oliver from the North Wessex Downs AONB .

The CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England ) Berkshire Branch gathered in the Long Gallery at Englefield House, for their Annual General Meeting 2016. They welcomed the Lord Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire, and recorded apologies from Vice Presidents:Sir Philip Wroughton KCVO JP, Dr Christina Hill Williams DL and the Chairman welcomed some 60 members, guests, Parish Councils, and Councillors to the meeting.

A keynote speech was given by Henry Oliver NWD AONB on the 'History of the North Wessex Downs”, which covered wide ranging topics, giving focus to a farming background, and an undisputed passion for the natural environment. He believes that the drive for growth must not destroy our rural countryside areas and we need support for the AONB countryside which has developed over many generations. He responded to many questions.